When Disney makes national headlines, it used to be for billion-dollar acquisitions or blockbuster box office numbers. But this time, the House of Mouse is under fire — not from competitors, not from politicians, but from every corner of its own fanbase. In a blistering piece for Forbes, journalist Caroline Reid lays out the full scope of Disney’s latest disaster: the planned demolition of the historic Rivers of America at Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom.
A Closed Sign on the Entrance to Tom Sawyer’s Island – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
It’s the kind of scathing critique rarely seen in legacy media, and Reid pulls no punches. Her article, titled “Disney Facing Furious Backlash Over $17 Billion Theme Park Investments” details a wave of fury sparked by Disney’s decision to replace the scenic Rivers of America, the iconic steamboat to Liberty belle, and Tom Sawyer Island with a Cars-themed rally ride.
Forbes also directly cites That Park Place and its publisher WDW Pro.
This wasn’t just a rundown of negative tweets. Reid’s piece functions as a public indictment of Disney’s leadership, especially CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro, for bulldozing heritage in favor of synergy. She traces the story back to Walt’s original vision in 1955 and explains how the Rivers of America weren’t just filler — they were the heart of the park’s immersive storytelling, offering guests a tranquil escape steeped in Americana.
The historic Liberty Belle Riverboat in the Magic Kingdom – Photo Credit M. Montanaro
Now, Disney plans to drain all of it — quite literally — in favor of a dirt-track ride featuring oversized cartoon ATVs from Cars. The backlash? Swift. Merciless. Nearly universal.
A Rare Consensus: “Nobody Wants This”
WDW Pro’s damning quote shared by Reid — “Nobody wants this to replace Rivers of America” — was echoed by thousands of fans, travel experts, and even former Imagineers. The Forbes article catalogues the avalanche of public outrage, from iconic voices like MickeyCentral and Disney Magic Mike to veteran imagineers and designers Jim Shull and Eddie Sotto, who offered actual solutions to preserve the river and build the new attraction elsewhere.
Meh. Now put it BEYOND Big Thunder. Nobody wants this to replace Rivers of America.
— wdwpro (@wdwpro1) March 8, 2025
Instead of accepting fan feedback, Disney has steamrolled ahead — literally.
Earlier this year, it secured approval from the South Florida Water Management District to begin altering the landscape around the river. The final gut punch came when Disney posted a promotional video for the new ride, showcasing a dusty rally track with bouncing ATVs. Gone was the elegance of the majestic and peaceful Riverboat. Gone was the serenity of Tom Sawyer’s Island. In its place: a glorified off-road simulator.
Concept art for Disney’s unnamed Cars attraction for smaller racers at Magic Kingdom
That video ignited a social media inferno. “We. Don’t. Want. This,” wrote one commenter. “Ripping the heart out of Magic Kingdom,” said another. “How has it become this bad?” asked a third. Forbes even quoted Frommer’s, the respected travel guide, mocking Disney’s plan: “Is this Disney? We could do this by renting an off-roader anywhere in America.”
Disney Has Land to Spare — So Why Destroy the River?
Perhaps the most baffling aspect is the sheer amount of land Disney owns. Reid reminds readers that Walt Disney World spans over 25,000 acres, most of it undeveloped. Even Iger recently bragged that Disney has room to build “seven full lands.”
So why target the Rivers of America?
The Rivers of America and Big Thunder Mountain in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
Reid, WDW Pro, and others point to an obsession with synergy. Iger himself admitted in May that Disney’s park expansions are now dictated almost entirely by existing intellectual property.
“It’s all about the IP,” he said. “Cars Land, Toy Story — those drive the returns.” But returns at what cost?
The river and island aren’t just attractions. They’re historical landmarks, time capsules of Walt’s philosophy. Former Imagineers have warned that removing them weakens the emotional pacing of the park. Jim Shull called them “decompression zones,” areas that allow guests to rest and reflect between the chaotic energy of modern rides. Eddie Sotto noted that the river offered contrast — “chocolate and peanut butter” — that heightened the impact of adjacent lands. Without it, the park becomes just another IP treadmill.
Fans, Experts, and Designers Agree: This Is a Mistake
It’s rare to see such a unified front. Retired Imagineers, professional designers, fan influencers, travel experts — all speaking with one voice. Jim Clark, another former Imagineer, even created a tribute video to the Rivers of America using Walt Disney’s own quotes, emphasizing just how central this attraction has always been to the park’s identity.
Concept art for Disney’s unnamed Cars attraction at Magic Kingdom
The message is clear: Disney is not listening to its guests — or its legacy.
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The timing of this disaster is no coincidence. Disney’s stock remains below $100 — a 20.5% drop in just the past year. Attendance at domestic parks is soft. And Universal’s Epic Universe — a bold, tech-forward new park — opens in just two months. Disney needs goodwill right now, and instead, it’s igniting its own fanbase in a self-inflicted PR firestorm.
The dock at Tom Sawyer Island in Walt Disney World – M. Montanaro
Reid’s article in Forbes rightly points out that Disney has walked back bad Walt Disney World decisions before — remember Disney Enchantment? Or Harmonious? Both were scrapped after fan backlash. But other areas marked for destruction, like The Adventurers Club or Maelstrom, were lost forever.
The real tragedy here is that it didn’t have to be this way. Shull and Sotto have both posted alternative designs showing how Cars Land could be added without touching the river. These aren’t wishful sketches — they’re the work of seasoned professionals offering real solutions. But so far, Disney’s response has been silence.
Legacy or Liability?
Reid’s article ends with a poignant observation: the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are uniquely American attractions. They speak to generations of park-goers — grandparents, parents, and kids alike — with deep emotional resonance. Twain’s America may be fading from the culture, but it’s still alive in Magic Kingdom. For now.
The Rivers of America in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
If Disney destroys that heritage in favor of synergy and sales, it won’t just be removing a ride. It will be severing a lifeline to Walt himself.
The question now is whether Bob Iger and the current regime have the humility to admit they’re wrong — or whether they’ll press forward and watch their most loyal fans walk away.
What do you think about this Forbes Walt Disney World article? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
Iger and the Board don’t care what others think. Like all zealots, they just want to push *their* vision on the world and they’ll do whatever it takes. They won’t listen to anyone they think is below them. Which, with all progressives, is everybody that disagrees with them or is of a lower income bracket.
If enough people were to stop visiting their parks in protest, that’s about the only thing that would work from a legal perspective to stop this. Given Disney investors are overwhelmingly sheep who sign away their voting rights to proxies, there’s no chance of them forming a quorum to stop this.
[…] in the world, Splash Mountain, and replacing it with something that never seems to run properly, or removing the beloved Rivers of America section. Universal is utilizing its most popular and enduring properties while Disney is jettisoning theirs […]